ADR Recording Studio in Los AngelesDialogue replacement against picture, for film, television and streaming
Automated Dialogue Replacement is one of the most technically demanding disciplines in audio post-production. Every syllable has to match the actor's lip movements, the room tone of the original location, and the emotional pitch of the scene. At MIX Recording Studio in Los Angeles, we handle ADR for independent films, episodic television, documentaries, and streaming content. Our engineers work against picture lock in Pro Tools, the industry standard for post-production, using frame-accurate sync tools and real-time visual cues to keep talent on pace with the original performance.
If you are looking for general voiceoverrecording, narration, or audiobook production, our voiceover recording page covers those workflows in detail. This page focuses specifically on dialogue replacement against picture.
Picture-lock workflow and sync tools
ADR sessions at MIX run in Avid Pro Tools with video satellite or imported QuickTime reference locked to the timeline. The actor watches the scene on a monitor in the booth, hears a three-beep streamer cue, and delivers the replacement line in sync with the original. Our engineers capture multiple takes per line and comp the best performance, then use Synchro Arts VocAlign to tighten timing alignment down to the millisecond level. This approach handles everything from a single word fix to full-scene replacements where location audio was unusable due to traffic, weather, or equipment failure.
The signal chain into the dub
We record through a Neumann U87or Neumann TLM103 depending on the character's tonal profile, running into a Universal Audio Apollo x8 interface with the Empirical Labs EL8X Distressor for controlled dynamics. The signal stays clean and uncompressed on the way in so the re-recording mixer has full latitude during the final dub. If the production requests a specific microphone or processing chain to match existing scenes, we accommodate that.
How productions work with us
Remote director sessions
Directors and supervisors do not always need to be in the room. MIX supports remote ADR sessions through Source-Connect and ipDTL, allowing a director in New York, London, or Atlanta to hear the performance in real time, give notes between takes, and approve selects without traveling. The actor and engineer work locally in our booth while the director monitors a full-quality feed with synced picture on their end. This workflow is standard on episodic television where schedules compress post-production into days, not weeks. We have run sessions with directors monitoring from home studios, hotel rooms, and network offices. Latency on Source-Connect Pro typically stays under 200 milliseconds, which is low enough for real-time direction without breaking the actor's rhythm.
Union compatibility and session requirements
MIX handles both SAG-AFTRA signatory and non-union ADR sessions. For union work, we accommodate standard session requirements: timed breaks, session logs with take counts and line identifiers, and delivery of materials in the format the production's post team specifies. Our engineers are familiar with the paperwork flow and can prepare cue sheets organized by reel, scene, and character for the supervising sound editor. Session turnaround depends on scope. A handful of line fixes for a single actor typically completes in one to two hours. Full-scene replacements or multi-character sessions may run a half day or longer. We schedule ADR sessions with enough buffer between bookings so talent is never rushed out of the booth.
ADR-specific gear
The signal chain for ADR prioritizes clarity and consistency with production audio. Primary microphones are the Neumann U87 and Neumann TLM103, both large-diaphragm condensers with the flat, detailed response that post-production mixers prefer. For ensemble ADR or group walla, we bring in the AKG C414 XLS matched pair in cardioid or figure-eight configuration. Processing runs through the Empirical Labs EL8X Distressor and Universal Audio Apollo 8 and Apollo x8 Thunderbolt interfaces. Monitoring in the control room uses Yamaha NS10, Dynaudio LYD 8, and a KRK 10S subwoofer, the same combination our engineers use for mixing and mastering. Pitch correction via Antares Autotune is available when dubbed lines need subtle tuning to match the intonation of surrounding production dialogue. A full inventory of available hardware and software is on the gear list page .
Rates and booking
- Smoking-free studio, standard rate$55/hr
- 4 hours or more Mon to Wed, or 6 hours or more Thu to Sun$49/hr
- Overnight 9 hour block, Monday to Wednesday$162
- Overnight 9 hour block, Thursday to Sunday$198
- Session with an Advanced Engineer, from$79/hr
- Session with an Elite Engineer, from$89/hr
Overnight blocks run midnight to 9am. Full pricing for all rooms and session types is on the pricing page. Most ADR sessions benefit from booking with one of our engineers who can manage Pro Tools, run the streamer cues, and handle VocAlign processing in real time. If your production brings its own engineer, we provide the room, monitoring, and signal chain.
Location
MIX Recording Studio is at 539 S Rampart Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057, in the Westlake neighborhood. We are minutes from Koreatown, Downtown LA, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Hollywood. The building has on-site parking for clients and we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (323) 218-7475 to discuss your project or book directly online. MIX also offers voiceover recording, mixing, mastering, and Dolby Atmos services.